Heiden, Johnson Named February Student-Athletes of the Month

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa student-athletes Ava Heiden and Ryan Johnson were named February’s Student-Athletes of the Month, the Iowa Student-Athlete Advisory Committee announced on Monday.

Heiden, a sophomore from Sherwood, Oregon, led the Hawkeyes to a six-game winning streak to close the regular season, shooting 54-of-73 from the field over the final five games. She also reached double figures against all 17 Big Ten opponents this season. During the month of February, Heiden averaged 21.3 points and 7.8 rebounds, while shooting 70 percent from the field and 77 percent from the free-throw line. Following her standout month, Heiden completed a national sweep of Player of the Week honors on Feb. 23–24.

Johnson, a junior from Springboro, Ohio, captured back-to-back Big Ten weight throw titles with a 2026 world-leading mark of 25.66 meters. His throw set a new school record and shattered the collegiate, meet and facility records. Johnson now ranks third all-time among American weight throwers and fourth in world history. Johnson won four weight throw titles during February and was named the Division I Men’s National Athlete of the Week by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association on Feb. 9 following a then-school-record performance at the Iowa State Classic. He also earned Big Ten Men’s Field Athlete of the Week honors on Feb. 11.

The track and field team travels to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the NCAA Championships, where Johnson will compete in the men’s weight throw Friday, March 13 at 4 p.m. (CT). The women’s basketball team now turns its attention to the NCAA Tournament, with the selection show scheduled for Sunday, March 15, on ESPN.